Seacrest Village Retirement Communities sits on a big 10-acre campus in Encinitas, California, filled with gardens, water features, open courtyards, a koi pond, and walking paths, and people always seem to say the place feels peaceful when you're out there, and there's a synagogue on-site if someone wants to attend services, since the place has served seniors in the Jewish tradition ever since it was opened way back in 1944 by the San Diego Hebrew Homes and it's kept up the tradition with kosher meals and Jewish holiday events, but they welcome all types of people and families from the area. The main campus is called the Leichtag Family Foundation Campus, and there are other locations too, like The Nellie Cohn Residence at Rancho Bernardo, but the main one most folks talk about is at 211 Saxony Road.
They run as a nonprofit, using charitable help from the community and events like the Seacrest Summer Soiree Gala that supports residents in need through something they call the Seacrest Foundation and the resident assistance fund. The place has several levels of care because some folks come in fine on their own and just want independent living, while others need some help here and there with daily tasks, which they call assisted living, and then they've got a whole memory care setup for people with Alzheimer's or similar conditions, with memory support programs to help keep people safe and engaged, and then there's skilled nursing for those with bigger health needs, not to mention post-surgery and rehab services. They've also got the Oak Hill Residential Care section, which can handle long-term situations like incontinence or Parkinson's care and cover other specific needs-diabetes, strokes, insulin dependency, stuff like that-and all this is under proper state licenses.
People who want to stay in their own homes sometimes use the Seacrest at Home program, where trained aides come by and help with elderly care, medication reminders, appointments, light housekeeping, errands like grocery shopping, pet care, and companionship for seniors living from Oceanside to San Diego and a bit inland too, and the care team can drive folks around or just sit and keep someone company if they don't have family close by.
Out on the campus, you'll notice there's an aquatics center with a swimming pool, a putting green, and a performing arts center where folks host events and shows, and there's always something going on-games, hobbies, day trips, and outings to keep things lively. For meals, they've got Craig's Juice Bar, Mel's Place Coffeehouse, and big community dining rooms where the staff serves kosher cuisine, and the chefs make sure the food's good and made with quality ingredients, which the residents seem to like, and on top of that there's weekly housekeeping, linen service, and help with home maintenance in the different units, which have kitchenettes, appliances, and cable color television, so everyone has the basics covered.
The staffing stays steady with 24-hour care, caregivers, and a part-time nurse on site, plus people like Andee Erwin, the Life Enrichment Liaison; Fredeline Engelbrecht, over senior care; Phoebe Luff, managing special events; and Susann Cantu handling security, so families say they feel secure leaving their loved ones there, and oversight is provided for folks with mild mobility or cognitive problems. They have all the therapies-physical, occupational, rehab-and offer hospice care if needed too, so people don't have to move somewhere else if their health changes, and there's personal care help to bathe, dress, take medicine, and get around, whether in independent, assisted, or memory care units. They do weekly laundry and offer things like massages, beauty salon services, fitness and wellness classes, a movie theater, an event center, and a synagogue, which makes for a full day if someone wants it.
Transportation is available with screened drivers for errands, doctors, shopping, and parking for those who still drive, sometimes for an extra fee, and the caregivers can go with you to appointments and pass along messages between your family and health team. There are also pet care services, so if someone needs their dog walked or a ride to the vet, that gets handled.
Folks online-families and residents-say the place stays clean, meals are good, and care is solid, mentioning staff give good attention, which probably explains the awards for Best of Senior Living, Best All Star, and Best Activities over the years. The community uses Facebook, Twitter, and Google to stay in touch, and often encourages people to come by for a tour to see things for themselves.
Altogether, Seacrest Village Retirement Communities has provided a caring environment for seniors for over 75 years, adapting to many needs, and offers many services for daily living, memory care, long-term health, and social connections, always working as a nonprofit that reinvests in resident care and quality of life.
